Launch of Indigo Wallace's book, Indigo Solves the Puzzle (2012)

Launch of Indigo Wallace's book, Indigo Solves the Puzzle

Graeme Innes AM
Disability Discrimination Commissioner
Australian Human Rights Commission

Sunday 9 December 2012

I acknowledge the traditional owners of the land.

One of the problems that people with disability experience in Australian society is an attitude problem. Not that we have attitude - although my teenage daughter has several times told me that I have too much attitude when I discipline her.

No, the attitude problem is the way we are viewed by society. We are viewed as heroes or victims rather than just as agents of our own destiny. One of my favourite commentators on disability issues, Stella Young, a person with a disability, encapsulates this problem- she says don't congratulate me for going to the shop - that's ordinary. Congratulate me if I climb Mount Everest - that's extra-ordinary.

So it's in that context that I congratulate Indigo. To quote from Darth Vader of Star Wars fame- the force is strong in this one.

Indigo gets the disability issue. She has come to terms with her own disability, and is working to minimise its impact. That is something which many of us do. But she has gone further. She wants her work not only to benefit her, but to benefit many others. Thus, her involvement in philanthropy - just taking her commitment to another level.

Indigo wrote to me to tell me her story earlier this year. And I was incredibly impressed. And when you read this book- if you haven't already- I'm sure you will be as well. In fact, I encouraged her to nominate for the young people's human rights medal at the human rights awards. I'm not a judge for the awards, so I can say that I'm barracking for her to win.

So keep up this work Indigo. It’s important for other kids with reading challenges. And it’s important that you - as a person with a disability - don't just role model going to the shop, but doing extraordinary things.

Thanks for the chance to speak with you today.